Block! Block! Block! Punch! Descend!
.....was the last thing I remembered when I went to bed last night. All my muscles ache, my legs are bruised and my knuckles are curled into permanent fists, but my head is wonderfully clear and open. I feel all my tension has evaporated into nothingness and I genuinely feel empowered and calm.
I have to say that I've not been training as regularly as I should and knowing that Sensei George was scheduled to visit our welcoming Dojo, I felt honoured not to miss both training days.
Saturday was packed full of young karate kids, enjoying and enduring their love for learning and training. When I arrived with my girlfriend (who has never seen me train before), the Dojo was packed with eager students waiting to show their all and proud parents watching their children finish training.
The Dojo was crowded to the edge in dedicated lines of perfection, ranging from Kyu grades to Dan grades. For everyone who attended the training, I'm sure everyone will agree when I say that we all endured the sweat and pain but feel calm, fulfilled and wiser.
It's always a pleasure and honour welcoming Sensei George and Sensei Linda to our Dojo whom commit their time and knowledge to everyone here in Sheffield. Improving our understanding of Goju Ryu from the traditional style to the modern day science of training.
A comment was made over the weekend about 'the feeling' of a couple of specific moves from kata and the best word anyone could come up with for 'the feeling' was inertia. The word means 'a tendency to remain unchanged - inertness means sloth'. . I don't know these kata but I am sure one day I will get to know that feeling. In the mean time I feel that 'perpetual fluidity' sums up my feeling about the kata that I know to date. Karate Goju Ryu can be compared to water in that it can be hard or soft but constantly in motion.
I'd like to extend my thanks to all at the Sheffield Hallam Dojo and surrounding Dojo's and in particular to Sensei Andy, Sensei Linda and Sensei George.
I look forward to my next training session, to continue my learning and enjoyment for Goju Ryu Karate.
Click to enlarge the Sunday training photo in a new window
Best regards,
Alastair